Game or puzzle



(No Mddel.)

. J. T. AHRENS. GAME OR PUZZLE.

No. 553,326. Patented Jan. 21, 1896.

il d'immed: A

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. AHRENS, OF \VILMINGTON, DELAXVARE.

GAME OR PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,326, dated January 21, 1896.

Application filed April 15, 1895. Serial No. 545,712. No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. AHRENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at ilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games or Puzzles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' My invention relates particularly to such games and puzzles as, while aifording amusement and pleasure, are at the same time instructive.

Broadly, the invention consists of a base having a plurality of holes arranged in lines representing some figurefor example, a Maltese crossand a plurality of pins or pegs designating numbers, said pins correspondingin number with the holes, and being divided into groups, the undivided pins in each group designating the same number and those in the different groups designating different numbers and being adapted to be placed in said holes so that the sum of the numbers designated by the pins in any given line or lines shall be equal to the sum in any other line or lines.

Specifically, the invention consists in the article, device, or apparatus illustrated and described in this specification, and more particularly pointed out in the claims annexed hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved game or puzzle, the pins being out of action, so to speak, and being arranged in holes provided to receive them when not in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the pins being arranged in the holes forming the figure and the arrangement showing the solution of the puzzle. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the cover, with which the device is preferably provided, in place.

Referring to the views, A denotes a flat base, which may be of wood, paper, or any other suitable material. It is herein shown solid, but may be hollow if preferred. The most convenient form of this base is circular,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but it may be square, rectangular, or ,of any other form. The outer edge of the base is rabbeted, and on the shoulder a thus formed rests the rim b of the cover 13, said rim being of sufiicient height to elevate the top of the cover above the heads of the pins presently to be described, all as represented in Fig.

The letters C C indicate a plurality of holes formed in the base, said holes being arranged in lines representing in outline some figure, the figure represented in the accompanying drawings being a Maltese cross, which figure I have selected for illustration herein because of its attractiveness and because it contains a large number of intersecting lines in a very small space. I do not intend, however, to limit myself to this figure, as the principle of my invention may be worked out in a va ri'ety of designs.

As shown in the sectional view, the holes 0 O are made conical or flaring outwardly, the object being to enable the pins to be easily and firmly seated therein. only a mere detail of construction and not an essential requirement, as the holes maybe of any form and size without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the figure of the Maltese cross herein shown there are thirtyseven holes in all and four intersecting lines of nine holes each. There may, however, be a greater or less number of holes, 'a greater or less number of lines, and a greater or less number of holes in each line, the only essential point being that there shall be a number of intersecting lines and that the number of holes in each line shall be the same.

The letters D D denote a plurality of pins or pegs, the number of these pins corresponding with the total number of holes in the base, and said pins being adapted to fit within the holes, the pins being for this purpose preferably conical in shape, so as to conform to the interior outline of the holes. There are thirty-seven pins in all in the present embodiment of the invention, one pin for each hole. These pins designate numbers from one (1) to fifty, (50,) though the numbers designated may be greater or less, if preferred, and would necessarily vary to some extent with the character of the figure represented Obviously this is are divided into groups, the individuals of each group designating the same number and the different groups designating difierent numbers. In the arrangement shown in the drawings there are five groups, as follows: sixteen designating the number 4:, eight designating the number 12, eight others designating the number 5, four designating the number 1, and one (calling one a group for convenience of description) designating the number 50.

The letter E denotes a row of thirty-seven holes around the edge of the base A, the ob jbct of these holes being to receive the pins when the puzzle is not in use. The pins are preferably provided with flat round heads, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the numbers, and the pins and heads may be made of wood, metal, or any other material.

The construction of my improved puzzle being as above described, the object is to place the pins in the radial lines so that the sum of the numbers indicated on their heads shall equal one hundred in each line and so that the sum of the numbers on the pins in the ends of the arms of the cross shall equal one hundred.

The solution is as follows: The pin designating the number is first placed in the hole in the center of the figure, and the pins designating the number 12 are then placed in the holes in the outer opposite ends of the lines, which will take up all the twelves, there being four lines. The pins designating the number 1 are then placed in the four holes located between the outer ends of the lines, and the remaining pins are distributed so that each line will contain two pins designating the number 5 and four pins designating the number 4. This will make the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, wherein it will be seen that each of the radial intersecting lines foots up one hundred, and that the numbers on the pins in the arms of the crossviz., the eight twelves and the four onesalso foot up the same.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of making and using the same, I claim 1. In a game or puzzle, the combination of a base having a plurality of holes therein, and a plurality of pins corresponding in number with and adapted to said holes, and the pins being divided into groups, the individual pins in each group designating the same number, and those in the different groups designating different numbers; substantially as de scribed.

2. In a game or puzzle, the combination of a base having a plurality of holes therein, and a plurality of pins corresponding in number with and adapted to said holes, the holes in the base being arranged in lines crossing one another, and the pins being divided into groups, the individual pins in each group designating the same number, and those in the different groups designating different numbers; substantially as described.

3. In a game or puzzle, the combination of a base having a plurality of holes therein, and a plurality of pins corresponding in number with and adapted to said holes, the holes in the base being arranged in radiating lines intersecting one another at the center, and the pins being divided into groups, the individual pins in each group designating the same numher, and those in the different groups designating different numbers; substantially as described.

4. In a game or puzzle, the combination of a base having a plurality of holes therein arranged in lines forming the figure of a Maltese cross, and a plurality of pins correspondin g in number with and adapted to said holes, said pins designating numbers and being divided into groups, and the individual pins of each group designating the same number, and the different groups designating different numbers; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. AHRENS. WVitnesses EUGENE F. TRAIN, JNo. H. IVIANSFIELD. 

